Bailey Ober Minnesota Twins pitcher, Just Announced his Departure

This winter, the front staff of the Minnesota Twins made an unsuccessful attempt to bring in a starter of playoff caliber. Bailey Ober is now in the starting rotation, and he may rise to the top thanks to his new pitch mix.

For any club, losing Kenta Maeda and Sonny Gray from the starting lineup would be difficult to accept. Gray finished second in the AL Cy Young race, and Maeda made excellent relief work in the last stretch before the postseason. Early in the offseason, Minnesota’s executive management discussed the possibility of signing a starting pitcher, but it would have been difficult given the team’s self-imposed payroll cut. Top prospects are frequently needed in trades for a front-line starting pitcher, and free agent options are too costly. In order to advance in 2024, the Twins will depend on their own starting pitcher choices.

Pitchers use spring training as an opportunity to refine their craft and get ready for the next campaign. During the winter and spring training games, which are the first chance for spectators to witness these offerings, some pitchers have been honing particular pitches. This spring, a number of Twins pitchers have debuted new pitches, but Bailey Ober’s new combination of pitches could help him go from being a mid-rotation arm to a starter capable of winning the pennant.

Ober employed a four-pitch combination in 2023, consisting of a curveball, changeup, slider/sweeper, and four-seam fastball. He has used his fastball less frequently during his big-league career, using it 12.3% less in 2023 than in 2021. Throughout his first three seasons, he has utilized his changeup more frequently; last season, it was his second-most-used pitch (28%).